The Re-birth of Pingu

Oh yeah...

2007-04-20T07:39:00.000-06:00

I had said earlier that I would not abandon the blog... and I have to say I am doing a piss-poor job at it! I am trying to not let my facebook addiction take over all aspects of my life... but its not going so well.

So, in a show of support of the bloggers, I am posting a blog message AND some photographs.

This month I have been in the Hanna-Oyen area of Alberta doing sharp-tailed grouse surveys. These cute lil guys are pretty awesome. In spring, the males congregate onto 'leks', which are dancing grounds. All the men start to 'dance', which is really just their way of competing. The females surround the lek, and watch the men dance. If they like what they see, the females choose a good dancer, and leave to get jiggy with it. When I say dance... the males spread their wings out, bow down, make thier white tail feathers stand up, and stomp thier feet REALLY fast, while moving around in circles around eachother.

I haven't been able to take a good photograph of the dancing males yet, but I did get a good photo of a female checkin' them out.

And now just some random purdy photos.

No no no - not abandoned

2007-03-11T01:01:00.000-07:00

I just read on Craig's blog that he though I had abandoned my blog - and no I have not... I am pretty wrapped up in facebook for the time being, but I actually do come on to the blogs to read what people are doing.

However, I endeavour to post more items in the future - just so that I keep in habit!

My pick up line

2007-02-08T19:08:00.001-07:00

Your Pickup Line Is

Hi. You'll do.

The Magical Pick Up Line Generator

Richard Dawkins Lecture

2007-01-26T21:41:00.000-07:00

First Day - CHECK

2007-01-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

Ok - First day at the job is now over.

My biggest pet peeve about the first day is having to meet everyone and be introduced over and over again. The first 10 people I was cool with, but after that it became a REAL struggle to sound pleasent. I think I am a pretty cheery guy - but I dunno... sometimes I just rather meet people on my own terms.

ANYWAYS. Now that my one complaint is done. I loved my first day. This promises to be an exciting place to work at, and I hope that more opportunities come out of this! I am a 'term' employee so far, so that means I am not yet permanent. Here is hoping though! I'd like to nest here for awhile.

I have buy some better pants though for work... my jeans just don't quite cut it...

Yay Shoppin!

2007 - In With A Bang

2007-01-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

Well...

Once again, absent from the blog for about 3 weeks... its the Joy of me.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and is having an even better new year.

I personally had a great holiday season, as I went to Vancouver for the holidays. Vancouver is VERY pretty... but man alive... I would not live there easily. So many homeless, so many run down areas of town, so many drugs! When I got back to quaint little Edmonton, I was almost releived. Some of my friends just say that I'm just not used to cosmopolitan cities... and if thats what cosmopolitan is, I don't want any part of that!

The new year is interesting so far. I have quit my current job to take one with the Alberta Government (which starts this Friday). This job will combine my ecology AND geography training into one nice pretty package. I think I am a bit nervous, as I will be working in Fish and Wildlife headquarters, and I know some of the bigwigs that work there. I need to be on my game for this job!

Mad TV Skit - How Naughty!

2006-12-26T18:43:00.001-07:00

Funny fall downs

2006-12-21T22:39:00.001-07:00

Sporadic Blogger, Thy Name Is Paul

2006-12-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

I notice that my blogging comes and goes in wavers. It has been awhile since my last blog, so I thought I would send a quick hi and hello out.

I don't have much time - work is SUPPER busy, and it is almost Christmas - so I have been busy buying myself presents LOL.

Hope everyone has a safe and healhty holiday!

Sarah during 1994...

2006-11-19T02:09:00.000-07:00

Was it only a decade ago when Sarah was largely unrecognized? Hearing this made me feel old... I remember this coming out... The guy doesn't even say her name right!

Dolly Parton... Old school style

2006-11-19T01:43:00.001-07:00

And check out the camel toe!!!

Convocation 2006

2006-11-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

From last Friday till this past Wednesday (yesterday) I was down in Calgary, partaking of my convocation. This is my second convocation, but it was far more enjoyable, if not shorter. I think it is probably a more basic emotion, but it feels ODDLY satisfying to be put in a spotlight above and beyond other people, especially when you remember being on the other side of the fence. I remember at my undergrad convocation, looking at all those Master Students getting their degrees, and thinking 'Wow, those guys are set for life!'. Now I have one of those degrees, and it felt good to walk up, and know that students out there were probably thinking the same thing about me. The down side.... I am looking at all those PhD students getting their degrees, and now I want one too...

This was the first convocation using the new format for the UofC. The image below shows the festivities. It was quite nice, lots of multimedia. It was even more special that I got to walk up on stage with three of the most fantastic people I have ever worked or collaborated with, my good friends Dan, Alka, and Heather. Really, if they hadn't been there, the whole celebration would be have been a lot less fun.

I think I may be a sucker for punishment too. I bitched and complained PLENTY when the Masters got out of control (Craig can probably back me up on this). But I am already scouting out PhD programs I may want to apply to when I am ready to go back to school. It looks like it will be in the US probably (they have WAY more funding). Can you imagine?? Dr. Paul??? I think that I would laugh if that every happened.

Ok, This made me giggle....

2006-11-08T23:00:00.000-07:00

Origin of Love

2006-11-06T19:41:00.001-07:00

I myself am a Child of the Sun - what are you?

The Name of the Game: Perseverance

2006-11-05T00:31:00.000-07:00

I just got back from the Dixie Chicks concert. I have to say, that if ever the opportunity arrives to see these three fantastic women live, I will also jump at the chance. I saw them in 2003, and now in 2006, after the whole eruption in the southeastern conservitive right states over their statements over George Bush. I think the story of what happened is very sad, and just shows how far from the idea of democracy the USA (and really Canada) has gone. The right to freedom of speech is one of the basic elements of our society, and no one should be made to feel afraid to speak their mind. Just one more reason why the 'right' side of society makes me nervous.

I posted a live music video of their song 'Not Ready To Make Nice' in honour of their amazing concert, as this song represents a direct rebuttal to what happened to them. A documentary is being made about them called 'Shut Up and Sing'. I can't wait to see it :).

My Morph Collage

2006-11-04T02:02:00.000-07:00

And here is my collage. Apparently I look Asian... which is odd, cause I have been told that several times (mostly about the eyes... not so much about my build!)

My Morph

2006-11-04T01:59:00.000-07:00

This is the 'morphing' video of me and my most similar celebrity match. This is from myheritage.com. I think I could do worse... Jay Hernandez is pretty handsome. Apparently our faces are 67% the same. I am going to email him saying that

See me morph into Jay Hernandez

Create your own Celebrity Morph™ on MyHeritage.com

Out In Nature

2006-10-27T21:31:00.000-06:00

Ok... here is the gay biologist in me coming out! I think these videos are SOOO interesting - it is for those people that say homosexuality is unnatural... the only reason they say that is that for a long long time, biologists weren't really allowed to talk about it... and then news and tv weren't allowed to print or show it... ENJOY! Each one is about 10 minutes long - its a good watch. Although... I felt a little dirty watching those bonobos....

Out In Nature: Homosexual in Animal Part 1

Out In Nature: Homosexual in Animal Part 2

Out In Nature: Homosexual in Animal Part 3

Out In Nature: Homosexual in Animal Part 4

Out In Nature: Homosexual in Animal Part 5

Blog Whore

2006-10-26T23:13:00.000-06:00

Yes, I have blogged lots today... and this is my last post. I went into the field a this past weekend, and took a really nice photograph of a 'downy woodpecker' They are cute lil guys, very tiny, with cute tiny little beaks.

And here is an uber-pretty photo of a larch tree that was a BRILLIANT orange colour.

Another Attempt For Craig To See The Last Unicorn

2006-10-26T21:41:00.000-06:00

As I keep talking, raving, talking, talking, raving about the The Last Unicorn to my friend Craig, I thought I would post this video from YouTube about the Last Unicorn. And THIS time, it has clips of the movie set to Evanessence 'Bring Me To Life' to make it THAT much cooler.

So Craig. When you come up here next for a slumber party and we are stuck out home with mud masks and curlers in our hair, we are watching the movie.

Another Fantastic Song

2006-10-26T20:13:00.000-06:00

This song is by Tori Amos, and is a commentary on... well. You can decided for yourself... to straight people its talking about feminists and gays... to gay people, we usually think it is a commentary on straight men. All in all - the song provokes discussion, which is always a good thing.

Fantastic Song

2006-10-26T19:41:00.000-06:00

This is a song by the band Delerium called 'Aria'. The women singing in this song are a group called the Mediaeval Baebes. The sing all their songs in Old English, so some of the words aren't even recognizable anymore. I think their music is very, for a lack of a better word, magical.

Enjoy!

So Delectable, These Tasty Treats

2006-10-26T18:08:00.000-06:00

Is there anything better that a plate of freshly deep fried hot wings waiting to be nibbled on?No. I didn't think so.

New Blog!

2006-10-26T08:29:00.000-06:00

I decided to 'update' my blog to the templates created due to the 'google' set up thing. I wasn't really paying attention to it really. But it does allow you an easier way to modify your template (just drag and drop).

Anyways - I had another hiatus from posting cause everytime I tried to post something, my computer would crash, but this new template uploads super fast! Its quite good.

I slept in again today (every day this week) - So I am off to drive my 1hour to work!

The God That Was Never There

2006-10-25T23:38:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to post this little clippit for a movie that I thought was really interesting. I thought that it did a good job at presenting some facts about modern religion. I wanted to share this as it renewed an interest in this subject that I fostered years ago in my undergrad. I took a couple of third-year religion courses in the Department of Religion at the University of Alberta, where christianity, and to a certain degree (just by close association) judaism, were relating the folklore of the bible to older religions. This documentary kind of touches on that, where the Jesus story has been seen many times before. The same can be said for other religous stories such as Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, etc.

Anyways... this presents a lot of historical facts that I think are really neat. I know some of my friends (especially certain Anglican ones ;)) don't like hearing this kind of material, but it really just is a presentation of facts that many people don't consider. In the end... religion has been a part of humanity for so long, that none of the religions are really 'exclusive' on their stories anymore, there has been much borrowing of fables. Anyways, its a good watch, and I suggest it to anyone open to learning new concepts and learning more about current religions.

I laughed so hard I was crying

2006-10-03T23:13:00.000-06:00

Sisters are Funny

2006-10-01T02:09:00.000-06:00

I had my sister over tonight to watch Grey's Anatomy. It was plenty of fun, and as she had never seen the show before, I was excited to see her reaction. At the end of the last episode we watched, she was full of tears (I keep saying its a good one!).

However, the highlight of the night was not the tv show.

I am house sitting at the moment, and most of the house is empty. Because of that, my TV is set up in my bedroom (to keep me self-contained). I was sitting on my computer chair, my sister was on my bed.

My duvet cover is a nice light brown, but I have dark chocolate brown pillows. Problem is, my headboard is also dark brown. The duvet, in combination with a feather bed, makes for a comfy sit. My sister sat on the edge of the bed, while I stood close by getting the dvd ready. She exclaimed 'Oh My God!' (because it was so comfy) and dived head first into the pillows. Unfortuneatly, she didn't take the time to look at the pillows, and she couldn't differentiate the pillows from the headboard.

I looked up just in time to see her careen head first into the headboard just as she finished saying 'God'.

I laughed and laughed and laughed.

Shakira Parody

2006-09-30T08:26:00.000-06:00

Delicious Morissette

2006-09-30T08:20:00.000-06:00

Crazy Photo I took on Salt Spring Island

2006-09-28T22:29:00.000-06:00

Also so funny...

2006-09-25T21:07:00.000-06:00

Better Than Craigs Commercial

2006-09-25T20:37:00.000-06:00

A Diamond in the Rough

2006-09-24T11:02:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to post a comment about TV.

I like TV, I will admit. Some days, nothing feels better then just to come home, sit down on your couch, eat supper, and watch the tube. It requires zero energy. Saying that, I recognize that 99% of TV is trash. If its not some wierd pseudo-sexual music video made by a 16 year old girl, its some crappy US news show, or maybe some low-budget sit-coms with terrible writers. Maybe it could be some childrens show, which seem to be oddly violent, and the jokes rather vulgar. Maybe its daytime television, with cheap home decoration shows or wierd religios call in shows.

Every now and then, you find a show that REALLY hits you hard, and you just can't seem to get enough of. The last time this happened, it was Sex and the City. THIS time, it's Greys Anatomy. I purchased the second season this past week, as a reward to myself for finishing school. I've already finished watching it, all 27 episodes. It has comedy, drama, action... the characters have depth and they develop. The plot is interesting and constantly evolves.

So if anyone is looking to get into a series this fall... I say try Greys Anatomy! The third season just started, and its going to be a good one!

Terra Naomi - The Vicodin Song

2006-09-23T01:09:00.000-06:00

Terra Naomi - Say Its Possible

2006-09-23T01:05:00.000-06:00

Thats MASTER Paul to you

2006-09-23T00:44:00.000-06:00

It has been a SERIOUSLY long time since I posted anything.

I tried posting a couple weeks ago, lots of photos, but this site kept crashing... I got annoyed... I deleted the entry.

Anyways... I have been in hell the last month and a half, trying to finish up the monster, I mean Masters degree.

And I successfully defended it on September 20th, 2006 between 230 pm and 515 pm.

Thats about all the energy I have to write right now.. but I will get back into the blogging very soon! I swear!

What Superhero Are You?

2006-08-09T23:14:00.000-06:00

Your results:
You are Catwoman

Catwoman		80%
Green Lantern		75%
Superman		70%
Hulk		70%
Robin		60%
The Flash		60%
Wonder Woman		50%
Supergirl		50%
Spider-Man		45%
Batman		45%
Iron Man		30%

You have had a tough childhood,
you know how to be a thief and exploit others
but you stand up for society's cast-offs.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...

Back in Alberta

2006-08-08T22:16:00.000-06:00

Horror struck me in the few final days of my time up in the NWT! The battery on my camera started to go, and I left my recharger in Edm!! So I couldnt take many photos. And actually... it was fairly uneventful. The Deh Cho is very pretty, but very much like Alberta (minus the forestry cutblocks, seismic lines, and pipelines). It is much more flat then the Sahtu, but the trees are MUCH larger.

Oh yeah, and the insects are a lot worse down in the Deh Cho as well. I had a black fly bite in my belly button, it was nasty. They don't attack youlike mosquitoes (which poke you like a needle). The black fly scrapes at your skin till it bleeds, then laps up the blood. So I have this big wound in my belly button, and it looks terrible.

Yeah. Anyways - here are the few remaining photos from my trip! The ones I could take at least before the camera ran out of juice!!

Common Raven 1:

Common Raven 2:

Gull (Species? I dunno):

Pretty rocks along Mackenzie River:

Shot of Sahtu/Deh Cho border:

Cool pool of water along Mackenzie:

And I Said, Goodbye to You!

2006-08-04T20:39:00.000-06:00

Well, here we go.

I left the Sahhtu today -

I am heading towards the Deh Cho region of NWT. I can't wait till I get the chance to explore the Sahhtu more in the future. The Deh Cho extends down to the Alberta border, so the landscape is going to look quite familar... not so alien and interesting as the Sahhtu!

First, just some photos that I wanted to share! Like I said in my previous post, Norman Wells was built around some wellsites, a few of them on constructed islands, as seen below (you can see Norman Wells in the shot as well).

We switched helicopter pilots for a couple days (along with vehicles). This is the new one we had. It wasn't as fancy as the first machine.... either is the pilot. He's OLD, and kinda forgetful. Buts its kind of fun, hes like a grandpa! All sweet and caring, and full of stories.

On the last day of work in the Sahtu, I saw a spruce in full bloom!!

...

Yeah, that was my reaction too. I had to double take the tree, just to make sure I saw it right. Its really a flower poking through the spruce... but I thought it was photo worthy:

One last photo!

On the trip down to the souther portion of NWT, there were TONS of forest fires, some we flew over. The ones we flew over, the photos didnt turn out (just too much smoke). So here is a photo of a huge one burning in the distance.

More photos to come. I now have to do both this post and another today, cause I didn't have internt access for awhile in the Deh Cho. So I am going to post this one, and the next one right now!

I've fallen in love

2006-07-30T20:55:00.000-06:00

With the Sahhtu.

Its a region in the NWT territories. And also currently where I am typing this. Last week I am flew into Yellowknife, then caught a connecting flight up to Norman Wells. Norman Wells was... on my first impression ... ROUGH. I've worked in numerous small towns in Alberta, but NOTHING in Alberta comes close to the NWT.

Norman Wells was interesting, being built around... wellsites! Actually, Imperial Oil built nine islands in the Mackenzie River to build wellsites on, really cool to see from the air. Oh, and by the way.. .the Mackenzie River... AMAZING. It is VERY beautiful, and is pretty much as wide as a lake! Norman Wells is primarily a white settlement, so it was a good intro for me into the area. The same day I arrived I was airlifted to Tulita, NWT:

Tulita was very small - maybe about 450 people... and was not actually accessible by road unless during winter (they build winter roads over frozen lakes). We stayed at the Tulita Inn, which was actually nice and decent - just that there were no restaurants in town, only one grocery store (The Northern), and no truck rentals. So we actually had the owner of the Inn drive us around.

We started that day, flying around in a helicopter, along cliff sides looking for peregrine falcons, and other sites looking for any nesting raptors. This is VERY cool. Maybe it doesnt seem like that to people who arent into biology... but this kind of job is what MAKES people want be biologists. Zooming around in a helicopter, in the far north, alongside mountains and cliffs, looking for peregrine falcons, finding thier nests, taking photographs of them and GPS locations, zooming off again, with the peregrine adults escorting you out. Below is a nest we found.

After Tulita, we went to Fort Good Hope.. which was... ROUGH. I was introduced to a new level of rough. We stayed at a bed and breakfast which"
- Had dirty dishes in the sink
- Lights hanging off the wall
- Smelt of urine mixed with sweat
- Had no toilet paper
- EVEN if we had TP, we werent allowed to fush it, had to be thrown in a waste paper basket (flushing issues)
- No dish soap to wash the dishes.
- A stranger in the BnB that we were not told about.
- Given no keys to lock up the house.
- Broken shower door
- Mildew ridden shower

Some of the issues COULD have been fixed by us purchasing items.. but its so expensive up here, it wasnt worth it. Hint: a small watermelon costs 40 bucks, and 2L of milk is 8 bucks.

During our survyes in Fort Good Hope, we brought along locals, which are an invaluable source of information of wildlife of the areas. Below is me and and a local assistant Gene, sitting on the Arctic Circle, taking a quick break from the flying.

We left Fort Good Hope this morning (VERY happy experience) for Norman Wells again. Along the way, had lots of fun flights. The pilot mike (below) was incredible. He has been flying in the north for about 6 years, and was really good at moving the chopper into hard-to-reach areas.

And, even landing in wierd spots! The photo doesnt quite capture it, but he landed on a small little esker:

We finally got back to Norman Wells. This place, after many days in rough rough parts of NWT, might as well have been Hollywood. We are staying at the Mackenzie Inn, and it seems like HEAVEN. All our spirits our raised by clean rooms, individual washrooms, and an actual restaurant!!!

I'll update you guys further when I get more pics. I am here for 15 more days.

Paul of the North.

The Passings of Friends

2006-07-24T18:40:00.000-06:00

It's been an odd year.

Last November, I lost my god friend Vanitha to a viral infection. She contracted what the doctors described as a 'pneumonia-like virus', which in the end destroyed her lungs. She was gone within four days of going to the hospital. What made her death even more sad, is that she was married for only 2 months. Her marriage was the first time in a long time, all my childhood friends go together all at once, only to have to do it again for her funeral. So, last November was the first time I had to bury a friend. I met Vanitha when I was 4 years old, in kindergarten. She was 26 when she died.

I just went to another friends funeral, I worked with her in Calgary, and we worked together a fair bit. She fell out of a tree a week ago and died on impact. The service was this past weekend, and it was very sad, but a very beautiful service. Lots of people came to the service. She was one of those GOOD people, vegetarian, only bought organic food, very caring, farmed. She was also a single mother, raised her daughter on her own. She was 37.

These are the moments that you feel your last remaining, and VERY tenuous, attachements to childhood kind of slip away from you. And maybe its the final understanding of what time and life actually means, that officially makes you enter adulthood. You always hear about don't waster your life, only given one shot to do this, etc. But I don't think many people actually realize what those statements mean till its too late. And you can't teach someone that lesson, you have to wait to learn it yourself.

So, I made a mid year resolution to go and get in touch with all the friends that I lost touch with along the way, give them an open invitation to talk with me. I am also going to spend more time with family, especially my young nephews. And I am going to try my best not to make decisions rashly, but to understand the choices I make will inevitably influence the rest of my life, and that my life is tied to a large web of others. Got to make life count! No regrets.

ohhhhhhhhhhhh - My little piggies!

2006-07-24T18:35:00.000-06:00

When I was in Calgary this past weekend, I went for a nice treat with a good friend of mine, Christa. We decided to go for gelato on 17th ave, and go sit in Needle Park (I call it needle park, its not the official name. Its the part across from Steeps and Inhabit. Lots of drug dealers there). So we sat in the park, eating our cold treat, and I didn't even notice the mosquitoes. Until the next day when I woke up, and my feet were vibrating from pain!

I had mosquitoe bites ALL over my toes, and ONE even in between my toes! Its been hell every since. I'm only wearing sandals to work now, since my feet itch so much. I know I shouldn't itch... but when I do, it makes me feel like I should go smoke a cigarette.

If there does end up being a God after all... and there is a heaven... and based on the assumption that I'm going there despite certain life practices, the first thing I am going to ask him is, why create a creature that harasses the people you made your image? IT DRINKS THEIR BLOOD, GET IT??? Nasty lil buggers.

Day Off... What does that mean?

2006-07-18T16:03:00.000-06:00

I started work on July 4... and I've worked straight throught till today! I might take Thursday off... I might not. I get to bank all my weekend and overtime hours, so I am hoping to make most of August off with pay. THEN my plan is to pack up, move all my stuff, buy something pretty for Craig for looking after my stuff, and finish my Masters.

Oh yeah... and I've saving up slowly for something (nothing in particular... every thursday 50 bucks gets withdrawn from my account and put into an ING account). And today I think I finalized what I want to to buy... and Mac computer for home.... gonna cost about 2000, so im only half way there... but i figure i should be able to buy one soon!

Never Shave a Sunburn

2006-07-10T21:41:00.000-06:00

I was out by Drayton Valley working this past weekend... and I got really sunburnt on the top of my head (I have really short hair... which apparently my mom hates, cause it makes me look fatter - thanks mom!)

I put on sun tan lotion, but it was SOOO friggin warm that I was sweating buckets. Anyways, the result of this is, is that the top of my head is red. I tried to shave it yesterday (well, not shave... trim with clippers is more accurate), and I couldn't do it! I did my best, bit my lip, squealed a little bit. I couldn't stop in the middle of trimming, so I did my best. Now my hair is all patchy. It looks like crap. I tried again tonight to trim, but again, my scalp is too sore!

I have to wait a couple of days before I attempt that again. Until then, I have to go around looking like a leper!

HOT

Le New Job, Le Part 2

2006-07-05T18:31:00.000-06:00

Today was my second day at work.

It was MUCH better. I don't have a computer yet, BUT I do have a laptop, so its a start. I took some iniative today, since I didn't want to be a boob forever. First part of the day was signing more forms and reading policies, and then sitting down, and reviewing landowners that I will need to contact. In the end, went for a last minute meeting with another consultant and the client, discussed what I learnt about the project so far, which helped me get a clear understanding of what I needed to do. Then got some insight from the botanist that had already surveyed that route. This let me know the areas I didn't need to sample at all. Then I got to go and phone Ducks Unlimited and the Canadian Wildlife Service to find what they knew about the area, then I got to call land owners! I should head out to the field tomorrow, with a wildlife tech assisting me. All in all, a much more productive day. Oh yeah, and I had to write a blurb about mysel for the company, so they could email it to the whole building introducing who I am and my experiences. Its DIFFICULT writing about yourself! I think I sound hokey when I do that.

Ah well.

Looking forward to tomorrow!

Oh yeah! And apparently the girl thats across the hall from me is a lesbian! fun!

Le New Job

2006-07-05T07:16:00.000-06:00

I think I have to come to the conclusion that I hate starting new jobs. But then again, who does??? My first day at work was pretty good, met some good people, chose my office, read policy manuals, blah blah blah. One thing is though, I don't have a computer yet, in fact, I don't have many things yet! In our department there are 20 some people... only 4 are in the office this week (the rest of out working in the field). So... my computer wasn't ordered, I haven't had any training yet, haven't signed any forms yet! I am hoping that today might be a bit more organized. They gave me some background information on a project that they need to complete, so I was going through there, looking at the budget and personnel and deadlines. This project has to be completed with a draft report handed in by next Friday... FRIDAY. Ummmm. I don't even know where to go to get field gear! Or company vehicles! I don't have maps to know where this thing is. It's fairly frustrating. I hope I get more information on it today!

Hmm. I don't even know how to log in my hours! I know they have a computer program for that... but alas... no computer!!!

Pictures of Joy from McKay

2006-06-29T11:36:00.000-06:00

To Edmonton! To Edmonton!

2006-06-17T19:54:00.000-06:00

Well

I got a really good job offer from a really good company. However, this position is in Edmonton! So... Starting July 3, I will be back in Edmonton!

Last post today, I swear!

2006-06-15T17:28:00.000-06:00

Since I posted my mallard pics... I thought I would share my pics I took of a 13-lined ground squirrel when I was in the field a couple weeks ago. He's uber-cute. I also added in two pics of nests we found - the eggs are about the size of dimes n nickels!

FYI

2006-06-15T17:27:00.000-06:00

Just in case anyone is downtown, or near Cameron Ave... my new favourite drink is the green tea latte from starbucks.

I accept grande and venti versions of it, thank you.

One Mallard, Two Mallard...

2006-06-15T17:20:00.000-06:00

When I came home from work today - I had a nice little surprise - two mallards just hanging out on the front step. I ran inside, got my camera, and snapped a few photos. I hope they aren't injured though, it would break my heart. They seemed to be healthy enough, and walked around easily enough. If i see any mallard bodies on the front lawn any time soon, I'll take the day off to cry!

Two Weeks Since My Last Post

2006-06-14T17:59:00.000-06:00

It has now been two weeks since my last post... so I suppose I should talk about all the exciting things that have happened to me since then...

....

....

I went to the gay pride parade alone! That was fun and exciting....

....

....

I was at school till midnight this past Saturday! That was fun and exciting....

....

....

I went to bed before 10 for the past two days! That was fun and exciting....

....

....

My left armpit seems to be smellier than my right one for the past week. Does that happen to anyone else? Like, my deodorent doesn't work on my left armpit. This is fun and exciting.

Anyways - yeah, so to wrap things up - its been busy with school and work... and it doesn't appear to be letting up anytime soon!

Not until September that is.

Hardest Interview EVER

2006-05-30T22:07:00.000-06:00

I am sitting here in the Saskatoon aeroport, waiting to be whisked back home, from Stoon Town to Cow Town. I had my interview today, here with Parks Canada. I should have known it was going to be a hard interview, when he gave me some forms to fill out, before I presented my powerpoint to 'members of the board'. Actually. There were only four people, and I think the most I have had, in regards to panel interviews is six people.

So, first I had to do a little write up in 10 minutes. They have me two skill sets (one was professionalism, and the other was team working. I had to write down examples of both in previous jobs (within two years), what my job title was, what the outcome was, and a reference for both of someone who can back me up. Totally took me off guard! I have to go and email those people very quickly to give them a heads up. One I haven't even asked for a reference for yet, but I am sure she'll be ok with it.

The next step was one oral question about my educational background, work history, skill sets, personality traits, and hobbies relate to this job. I had to go through each one and tell them why I have what it takes in each of those areas.

Next was the presentation. Which was ok. I just zoned out and did my thing (thats from working with elementary school groups at the zoo, giving educational programs). Once that was done, they asked me questions about the presentation for about 10 minutes.

Next came the questions. These weren't normal questions. There weren't asking, 'Have you ever had a conflict with someone, and if so, how did you resolve it?". The first was, using Parks Canada Policies, Federal Law, and Saskatchewan Environment mandates, name the implications of retintroducing endangered species into a national park.

Guh?

The next question was a situational question: If i was a landowner, and the endangered species were migragting from the park onto thier land, how would i address the issue. I would say one thing, then they would say, what about land compensation, i would answer, what if they compared our system with the US Endandered Species Act.

Snuh?

At this point in the interview... I thought to myself... they really don't look impressed... they were NO smiles at ANY point in the whole process. I don't think I got this job. And actually, the rest of the interview was alrighty - the first two were definitly the most difficult.

So... there is my story, of my trip to Stoon Land, and the interview that never was.

I'm Copying Craig

2006-05-30T21:56:00.000-06:00

Recently, on Craig's blog, he posted some pet peeves. I have chosen to do the same here... just cause I find myself getting irritated.

Cyber Chat. Web Chat. Call it what you will.

If someone is going to ask me, what do you do for work... and I answer... oh, I'm a biologist... there are several responses that I consider annoying:

Response 1) Do you enjoy it?

My Answer 1) No, you ass. I fell into a biology job for chance, and I find myself stuck, and not able to get out of it. Its not as if I work at Wendy's, and can't find better work. I went to graduate school to do this! Yes... I enjoy it, ass.

Response 2) Ah well, not my cup of tea.

My Answer 2) This is not what you say about someone's career. And if you want me to ignore you, this is what to say. If I respond to the question as to what I do for work, it is in no way looking for you to qualify what I chosen to do with my life, so please don't somehow pass judgement on it.

Best Response: Oh wow. How did you get into that.
Next Best Response: What sort of things do you get to do.

My Answer: Come home and sleep with me.

Politcally Incorrect and Totally Funny Comic Strips

2006-05-21T09:38:00.000-06:00

Stereo Update

2006-05-18T17:46:00.000-06:00

FYI

Someone has generously nabbed the free stereo for use during thier patio deck season.

So no more questions about it... ok? Snooze, you lose!

Don't you feel like this some days?

2006-05-18T17:44:00.000-06:00

image from nataliedee.com

To interview, or not to interview.... that is the question

2006-05-18T17:38:00.000-06:00

I have recently been offered a job interview with Parks Canada. Now, this is a job that I applied for about 3-4 months ago... and they are just now getting back to me (feds... go figure). It would actually be a sweet job, except for a few issues:

1) I'd be leaving a permanent job with benefits to go to a contract job.
2) The job would be in Southern Saskatchewan, along the US-CAN border.

However, there are some good points to it:

1) Job is totally cool, and much more interesting than my current one.
2) Might lead to an 'in' with other federal jobs around the country.
3) Could potentially pay more than my current job.

I'm fairly on the fence with it... and I don't think I have made up my mind whether I would take it or not. The company I work for treats me pretty good... so I'd feel bad leaving them at the beginning of the field season. I will go to the interview though... and I will try my hardest, just to keep my foot in the door.

The first part of the interview process was a 1500 report on the development of monitoring strategy for a chosen species at risk. I passed that. The interview step next is in Saskatoon, and is 2 hours long. The first thirty minutes is a presentation I have to put together, then there is a written test. The next hour is the oral interview. It sure is a lot of work to go through for a job I am not even sure I want!

Stereo Pour Cheap

2006-05-14T13:49:00.000-06:00

Hey

I am selling my stereo for a nominal price - free. It works, the cd player just needs to be cleaned out. I have a new system, and don't really have room for this one any more. Let me know, otherwise its just gonna go to the trash.

Tolkien Was Gay

2006-05-14T09:37:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I going around my apartment this morning, just cleaning, and thinking to myself. To those that don't know me, my brain is fairly semantic, and my thought pattern fairly scattered. Makes for a good combination.

I was doing dishes, and thinking about Lord of the Rings, when I came to the conclusion:

Tolkien was either a closet homosexual, or was sympathetic to the struggles of the homosexual demographic.

I know that this sort of statement needs clarification. I have heard tons and tons of people say that the whole Frodo/Sam relationship seemed slightly homoerotic, but I'm not going to touch that issue. My thoughts were about the Ents.

Here you have a whole population, made entirely of males. The Ents are seen as living mainly alone, not really or fully interacting with other Ents. Mostly complacent, not pariticpating what is happening to the rest of the world, since they really aren't on anyones side, since no one is entirely on thiers. Until they find that parts of thier demographic are being killed and attacked, do they finally form and group together, and decided to rise up, or as Gandalf said "the Ents will wake up and find they are strong". Was Tolkien promoting the gay civil rights movement? Helping us recognize that as a group, we can start making changes in the world that affects us? That complacency has no real use the world?

And the final clincher:

Fanghorn was the leader of the Ents. Take out the 'n'. You have Faghorn.

Think about it.

Field Season Time

2006-04-29T11:35:00.000-06:00

Surfacing

2006-04-29T00:44:00.000-06:00

Three posts in one day - whats going on!

I think I made it. I wanted to post this to all my peeps that I have been ignoring and being all flakey on. These past four months have been really difficult for me. I have been working full time (40 hours a week), TA'ing a graduate level cours (10 hours a week), working on literature review for my supervisor (5 hours a week), and dealing with general school and project related issues as need be. Suffice to say, I was nearing exhaustion, and very nearly depression this term! Stress eating became my friend, but that is soon to change. Even now, with my hours coming down a bit, and my evenings becoming my own again - I have been buying more and healthier groceries and cooking good meals. I look for ward to the next four months, and getting my life back to a point where I am actually having fun and enjoying myself, and trying to get me back to a healthy form (both mentally and physically).

So again - to all those people I have been ignoring, blocking, not returning phone calls, avoiding - it wasn't personal - just something I needed to do in order to deal with some short-term stress and deadlines.

As this post says - I am surfacing. I'm coming up for some breath. Saying that, I am not done school yet, but I don't forsee it being as tough as it has been. Yay for me!

Is This Allowed?

2006-04-29T00:33:00.000-06:00

One of the students I was teaching this last term up at the University has offered me some contract work (He is actually an 'adult student' and does A LOT of the widlife work for a huge Oil and Gas Company, and is quite well known).

Is it OK to get hired by a student?

Sometimes I Feel Stupid

2006-04-29T00:29:00.000-06:00

Well.

Over the past two days I was taking First Aid with a group of people from work. This is a requirement for working out in the field (obviously).

I don't know.

I am working on my third degree. I can present my analysis I do to work to clients from across Alberta. I can defend my Masters. I can get a 3.91 average at the University in my graduate degree.

For some odd reason, I just can't pick up on first aid very fast! Something about that material makes me blink, and stare, and phase out. I think its an obvious sign that I will never go into the medical field. My brain doesn't have the capacity to retain that kind of information. My co-worker next to me (who just completed her Masters in the same department that I am in) leaned over to me during the test for the BC first aid test, and said, "Paul, I don't normall cheat, but our answers to 13 and 14 are different". Luckily, the people at St. John's encourage you to cheat.

After the test we talked about this. She and I had so much trouble! It was very unsettling. Thank goodness I don't have to do this very often. Three years till my next one! *phew*

It Is SO Me - Just add 'tease' into the mix

2006-04-19T22:34:00.000-06:00

This is another image from natalie dee.com - I think its just like me.

Paul Syntax and Verbology

2006-04-13T12:27:00.000-06:00

I just scrolled down my entries...

Apparently I like to start my entries with 'Well', 'Ok', and 'So'.

Do I talk like this in person?

New Job?

2006-04-13T12:22:00.000-06:00

Well,

I have been interviewed by another environmental consulting firm. They offered my the job at the end of interview. Its a smaller company than the one I currently work for, but the job sounds like more my styling. They pay less - so if I do take it, I will need to haggle over my intial pay fee.

I don't know. I am kind of turned. Their office is down in the SE of Calgary, and they are switching buildings in October, and will be moving even more South. I kind of like workind DT and being able to walk to work.

What to do!

Is it time to leave the Black Squirrel?

2006-03-31T19:57:00.000-07:00

Well... my rent is increasing to 650/month, and I think that if I am going to be paying that much - I'd like to be above ground! So if anyone hears of any cool 2-bedroom above ground apartments for rent, please let me know!

Time to Lose this Flibah Flibuh

2006-03-27T18:56:00.000-07:00

Gym starts tomorrow with Craig. Time to get looking HOT for summer time. Image from Natalie Dee.

Buy Buy Buy

2006-03-26T10:16:00.000-07:00

OK. So I have two peices of furniture that I would like to give away in the immediate future. One is a dresser, 4-drawers, brown, was my grandmothers, and now it can be someone else's!

The entertainment centre is black, two levels, glass doors, works just fine, and is easy to move. If you know of anyone who may want these two BEAUTIFUL and FUNCTIONAL peices of furntire, let me know.

I'm Curly

2006-03-23T21:31:00.000-07:00

Well, work today had thier FIRST annual funspeil.... which was a curling competition down at the Inglewood Gold and Curling place-thingy.

This was my very very first time curling, and I have to say.... I REALLY enjoyed myself! It was such a blast. I kind of suprised myself actually. I don't even really like watching curling on the tube, but I think I may want to start. I'd actually like to go back and try it again, I felt like after a couple of rounds I started getting the hang of things. Too bad though, as that was when we went and were fed and watered down.

Have to say, this company treats its employees pretty damn well. In my 8-9 months with this company, I have been given more free stuff, fed, and pampered more than any other career. Maybe government jobs ARENT the way to go! The provincial government definitly doesnt have these kind of perks.

Happy Bebe's

2006-03-13T23:05:00.000-07:00

OH MY GOD

Having a bad day?

Grumpy?

Got a case of the 'Mondays'?

This will give you an INSTANT smile:

Happy Bebes

Exodus Schmexodus

2006-03-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post this image in support of a debate occuring on another blog (Justinsomnia). This image is a parody (or.. IS it a parody? go see the original blog) about an advertisement for a group that is looking to de-gayify people. I think it is a horrendous thing to do, especially since if someone IS really gay and unhappy, its because of groups like Exodus that tell people that being gay is wrong. So, Exodus makes people feel like crap, and then offers a solution! De-gayification! Is something wrong with this picture?

To quote from thier website:
"Freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ."

YIKES: You have to love people who try to squelch diversity. I'd like to counter with a quote from the movie 'Saved':

"So everything that doesn't fit into some stupid idea of what you think God wants you just try to hide or fix or get rid of? It's just all too much to live up to. No one fits in one hundred percent of the time. Why would God make us all so different if he wanted us to be the same?"

Career Musings

2006-03-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

So, I have come to a conclusion of late. I find myself drifting more and more into the world of GIS (www.gis.com). I think I am going to start activley looking for more wildlife based work. It has been a year since I worked with wildlife, and I think I need to get back in the game (for fear my field skills will diminish).

So wish me luck! I will keep you updated when, and if, anything changes.

Stupid University

2006-03-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

So.

I had tickets to the Flames game tonight from work. I couldn't go because I had to finish marking assignements tonight.

I got an email FROM A STUDENT telling me that 'since the lab tomorrow was cancelled, are you going to be at school still?"

Um

I gave away my freakin tickets cause I had to get ready for tomorrow.

God Dammit.

Lethbridge Antics

2006-03-06T20:30:00.000-07:00

Ok. So.

I went down to Leth last night to go to an Oscar Party. It was actually really well organized. To sign up for the extravaganza, we had to register online. My buddy Ed kind of walked me through the process. As I tend to be a smart ass, I decided it would be funny to log-in as 'HotPaul'.

Yeah.

So, we get there, sit down, we have our drinks. The organizers had a computer projector going, showing the website with all the people that registered to play in the betting pool. To my HORROR, there I see 'HotPaul' listed... If I had ANY idea that the log-in name was going to be displayed, I would NOT have used that name!!! I was mortified. Then, when they started reading off our names and how many points we had (for every correct guess, you got one point), they came to HotPaul - thankfully the host pointed me out to everyone, and everyone kindly said 'Hi HotPaul'. 31 people... they are all friends, and I am just the arrogant asshole from Calgary! I felt terrible.

On one hand, if the places had been reversed, and someone came to the pary calling themselves 'HotBrian' or whatever, I would have thought them a prick.

On the other hand, I left the Leth with the nickname HotPaul! That can't be all bad.

2006-03-05T09:38:00.000-07:00

Its time for the Oscar's! This year I am off to an Oscar party down in Lethbridge, Alberta (don't ask me why, it just seemed to work out that way).

One may ask why I would go down to the 'Bible Belt' for a party, well, it's a betting pool. Apparently I like to make TV programs into oppurtunities for betting. Just ask me about my Survivor betting parties!

My picks were split... I chose Ang Lee for brokeback mountain, but I think that might have been where I stopped. No wait, I picked Michelle Williams for Best Supporting Actress. We will see. If I win, I can buy me something pretty n' shiny.

2006-03-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

Ok yeah... so they didn't like that picture... apparently it has to be under 50 kb. What the hell.

2006-03-03T20:06:00.000-07:00

Apparently getting your photo on here isn't as easy as on other sites... so this is a photo... of me... yep.

Well - Back on the familiar bandwagon

2006-03-03T19:46:00.000-07:00

Well,

I have to say, I am very suscpetible to suggestion! Here I am creating a blog... as if I have the time or motivation to keep it going. I don't even have time to wash my underwear properly.